Ranken Technical College

Alumni

David Chasnoff

Automotive, 1970

“What did attending Ranken mean to me? Attending Ranken as a young man not only taught me the vocational skills that I needed to have a successful technical career, but it also taught me the importance of hard work and commitment.

Completing my studies at Ranken was probably the greatest challenge I had undertaken in my life up to that point. The commitment and hard work that I used to meet this challenge is a strategy that has worked well throughout my life. I learned how to be successful at Ranken. This has given me the confidence and courage to tackle other challenges throughout my life.

Attending Ranken showed me that my hard work and commitment would yield a successful result.  This has proven to be true consistently in my life and for that I am grateful to Ranken for the opportunities it has afforded me.”

After his graduation from Ranken Dave began working for Lou Fusz. A customer at Lou Fusz needed someone to help with his weekend racing — so, Dave began his racing career. He jumped around from circuit to circuit and became a highly skilled engine builder. He even worked as Paul Newman’s personal mechanic for several years.

In the mid 1980’s Dave took time off from racing and became an instructor for Ranken’s automotive department.  Roger Penske then came knocking on Dave’s door. From ‘92-’98 Dave worked on the IRL’s Team Penske. He helped build the engines that helped his team win the ‘93 and ‘94 Indy 500, and the ‘94 IRL Championship. In ‘97 his team won the Indy Manufacturing Championship, Mercedes Benz’s only one.

Dave graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from St. Louis University in 2005.

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